Emily brings real-world expertise, a devotion to craft, and creative ambition into the creative writing classroom. Her teaching focuses on exploring contemporary modes and styles, establishing an empathetic and rigorous discourse among students, and building competencies with revision and editorial practices.

In recent years Emily has taught creative writing workshops to undergraduates (Drew University), in community based-settings (92NY and Center for Fiction), and as an invited guest at universities around the globe (Picador Guest Professorship for Literature, University of Leipzig and Rachel Rivers-Coffey Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing, Appalachian State University). She also has presented craft lectures, manuscript consultations, lit mag coaching and editorial Q&As at dozens of universities, literary conferences, and community-based organizations.

Building off her decade-plus of magazine editing (as prose editor and coeditor of The Southern Review, editor of The Paris Review, and senior editor at Stranger’s Guide), Emily now offers one-on-one editing and advising services to writers with literary fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novel projects. She tailors her editing to the project, whether it’s a clear-eyed editorial read, chapter-by-chapter developmental editing, line work, or something (anything) in-between. Projects range from individual short stories to collections to novels and book-length nonfiction.

Primarily Emily works directly with writers, either in preparation for submission or once they’re under contract and want to make sure their work is looking its best; however, she is also open to institutional freelance work. Recent projects an artist’s biography, a story collection, a writer converting several reported articles into a book-length project, and novels.

For rates, availability, references, and more information, please contact Emily at emily dot nemens at gmail dot com.

PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize judge, 2022

Northwest Review Fiction Prize judge, 2021

New Letters  Robert Day Award for Fiction judge, 2021

Hermitage Artist Retreat National Curatorial Council, 2019–2022

American Society of Magazine Editors National Magazine Awards judge, 2019–2021

Visiting Committee, Literary and Historic Manuscripts, Morgan Library and Museum, 2019–2021

Baton Rouge Youth Coalition Writing Mentor, 2016–2018